front of a hoiife, in one of the moft public ftreets in 

 London. On the firft of February 1812, while palling along 

 Piccadilly, we perceived a Keftrel directing its courfe from 

 behind St. James's church ; whilft we were obferving it, a 

 flight of pigeons from a neighbouring houfe attracted its notice, 

 he immediately wheeled round and made a (loop at one, which 

 dexteroufly eluded his grafp ; not deterred by this failure, he 

 made a fecond pounce, in which he was more fuccefsful, and 

 having truffed a bird, he took it fliil ftruggling to a pro- 

 je£lion from the church, where he leifurely devoured it, 

 notwithftanding it was fhot at, and attempted to be roufed by 

 the fliouts of numerous palTengers, who were fpe£lators of 

 this unufual circumftance, in one of the greateft thoroughfares 

 in the metropolis. 



A inale which we kept alive for a coilfiderable time, was fed 

 principally on birds and mice, it would aito^devour moft other 

 kinds of fmall animals ; when it had more than fufficient for a 

 meal, it ufed to hide the remains, and frequently kept them till 

 quite putrid, in which ftate they were preferred to frefh food. 



The youhg males ref^mble the female till after the fecond 

 moult. Its provincial names are Stannel, or Stannel-Hawk, 

 Steingal, Stonegall, Kaftril or Kiftril, Windhover, and 

 Windfanner. 



